The Strange Feeling About Luis Diaz To Bayern Munich

MUNICH, GERMANY – JULY 29: Luis Diaz of FC Bayern Muenchen poses for a portrait after he signed a contract with FC Bayern Muenchen on July 29, 2025 in Munich, Germany. (Photo by S. Mellar/FC Bayern via Getty Images)

FC Bayern via Getty Images

Liverpool’s position at the beginning of the summer transfer window was that Luis Diaz was not for sale.

Despite the Colombian attacker making eyes at Barcelona, the Reds were adamant: he wasn’t available.

It wasn’t too much of an issue, as these days, it’s not hard to call the Catalans’ bluff when it comes to transfers. There aren’t the resources for big money moves at the Nou Camp; there once were, and the club soon walked away with its tail between its legs.

Discussing the aborted move afterward, Barcelona president Joan Laporta claimed Diaz had been keen to depart.

“It’s true that I also liked Luis Díaz, a very complete player, but due to his circumstances, with a Liverpool very entrenched, it was complicated. Although I thank the player who wanted to come at all times,” he said.

Reports have since indicated that Diaz’s desire to depart has existed for at least a year after he failed to negotiate a new contract at the level he wanted.

We don’t know what Liverpool’s stance was, but it wouldn’t be unreasonable if the Reds took the position that, while Diaz has performed well, he is nowhere near figures like Mohamed Salah or Virgil Van Dijk yet.

As the summer dragged on, the forward was for sale at the right price. Bayern Munich paid $87 million this week.

Tellingly, when Arne Slot was asked to respond to the Colombian international’s departure, performances on the field were low on his list of things that would be missed.

“First of all, for the person he was because he always had a smile on his face no matter what, in the year that I’ve worked with him. I played him a lot, so then maybe it’s a little bit more normal to have a smile on your face,” he said.

“But even when I didn’t play him, he always came out for every training session and gave it everything, with a smile on his face.

“Apart from that, I’m going to miss his song a lot, a lot, a lot as well because it was maybe one of the best songs our fans have for a player.

“And of course, all that he contributed to us winning the league.

“But this is also who we are as a club. We are making big signings; we have done that over the past few years. But this club also needs to recoup funds to get these transfers that we already did over the line.

“It has been a summer where we’ve spent a lot, but I think if people look at all the money we’ve already brought in, that’s also – like last year when we almost only sold players – a good thing for this club as well.”

Writing on Instagram after completing the move, Diaz was a little more effusive about achievements on the field.

“I arrived with all the dreams in the world, and I am leaving proud of everything we achieved together,” Diaz posted.

“I have met incredible people, fabulous colleagues, coaches who helped me a lot, and extraordinary fans. Liverpool is, indeed, a special team, and I will keep everyone in my heart.

“It’s good to be leaving with the feeling of a duty fulfilled, and, most of all, to be leaving a champion.”

BBC journalist Tom McCoy also suggested Diaz was unlikely to be too badly missed at Anfield, given the talent the club has hired this year.

“When [Diaz was] used centrally last term, his high-energy pressing helped set the tempo for the Reds,” he wrote.

“But next season that role could be filled by club record signing Florian Wirtz, who – for all his attacking flair – works like a demon off the ball.

“The 22-year-old German won possession in the final third 71 times in the past two Bundesliga seasons, 15 more than any other player.

“In terms of filling the void Diaz leaves on the left flank, Cody Gakpo appears the obvious beneficiary.

“The Dutchman scored 18 times last season, though he isn’t quite as effective at dribbling through congested spaces.”

His move to Bayern feels strange and underwhelming, not least because it serves as a marriage of convenience for many parties involved.

Liverpool needs to recoup funds after a summer of unprecedented spending. Diaz wanted to leave to get his last big contract, and Bayern needed a star after a summer of catastrophic transfer failures.

The last of those is what makes this such a hollow arrangement.

It’s hard to know just how low Diaz was on Bayern’s list of targets. But there were failed moves for Florian Wirtz, Rafael Leao, Bradley Barcola and Nico Williams before this deal was done.

It’s put Bayern director Max Eberl on the backfoot and led to suggestions he rushed into the deal to buy Diaz, who, at 28, has little room for improvement and almost no resale value.

ESPN even labelled the move a “big gamble” and suggested it would entail a substantial financial commitment from Bayern.

“Eberl takes a considerable risk by signing Díaz because of the size of the financial commitment,” the media outlet wrote.

“Díaz is expected to earn €14 million before taxes, a source told ESPN, a 66% increase from his salary at Liverpool.

“The Bavarian club actually wanted to lower their payroll this summer, given that they have a number of players with annual salaries in the eight digits, but Díaz’s contract continues the trend.

“Eberl has faced criticism for his negotiating and squad-building skills, and once again, it looks as though he has struck an average deal at best.

“Díaz will be 32 when his four-year contract expires, making it unlikely that he will have much value should he need to be moved.”

He joins having registered the best scoring season of his career, although he was significantly behind Mohamed Salah’s and Dominik Szoboszlai’s influence.

Bayern hopes to level up in Bavaria, but that is not guaranteed.